Mining machine



(No Mmiel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. A. LEGG. MINING MACHINE. No. 299,655. r Patented June 3, 1884.

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B. A. LEGG.

MINING MACHINE.

No. 299,655. Patented June 3,1884.

@44 Mm W 7 W (No Model.) 3 SheetSSheet 3.

, B.- A. LEGG.-

' MINING MACHINE.

.No. 299,655 I Patented June 3, 1884.

E III '4!...l urn will llllllllllll II lillllllllll II BENJAMIN A. LEGG, OF COLUMBUS,

PATWEEIEE' 01110, AssieNon TO Tun. .JUVHNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF-SAME PLACE.

MINING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,655, dated June 3, 1884. v

Application filed October 10, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. Luce, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining-Machines, of which the following is'a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved machine. Fig. 3 is a side View, partly in section, showing parts of the invention. Fig. 4 is a detached View showing a modification of devices for moving the cutters backward. Fig. 5 isa detached view showing in plan the method of supporting the ends of one of the shafts.

The improvements relate chiefly to the mode of constructing the stationary framework or bed of the machine, its sliding cutter-frame, and the mechanism for advancing the cutterbarinto the coal and withdrawing it therefrom.

A A are the side pieces of the stationary frame or bed, and are commonly called by me channel-bars, because of their being provided upon their inner faces with channels'or grooves to receive and support T-bars 13.6, to be hereinafter described. Each channel-bar is provided upon its upper edge with an inwardly-projecting flange, a, to which there is secured a cogged rack-bar, to be described, These channel-bars are connected with each other and supported at suitable distances apart by means of girts O C, with the additional girt or tie, G at the rear end of the machine, and, when desired, a corresponding one at the front end thereof, the girts being securely bolted to the channel-bars at suitable intervals. As indicated in Fig. 2, blocks 0 c are formed upon the lower members, 0, of the girts, to furnish additional support for the channel-bars, and, when preferred, the girt O O G C may be cast or forged in one continuous piece of metal, either of wrought-iron or of cast-iron. As shown in Fig. 1, the central girt has its side portions, 0 O, bent over and bolted to the upper flange of the channel-bar, while the one which is nearest to the front end of the machine has its side portions, 0 G, cut off even with the upper surfaces of the channel-bars.

Fig. 2 is a rear View, partly in section.

The vertical webs B B of the T-bars fit closely the grooves in the inner faces of the channelbars, their horizontal webs b I; being of such width as to facilitate the bolting of many of E is the cutter-bar, mounted in bearings at-- tached to shoes at the forward ends of the sliding cutter-frame.

F (see Fig. 3) is the chain-driving shaft, mounted at its ends in suitable bearings bolted to the T-bars, and F is the driving-chain, connecting the shaft F with the cutter-bar, both of which may, if desired, be provided with sprocket-wheels, to receive the chain.

G G are the cylinders, located at the rear end of the sliding cutter-frame.

H is the crank-shaft, carrying the eccentrics h h, which are connected with the valve-stems g g by means of eccentric-rods.

For convenience in construction and arrangement of parts, I usually prefer to connect the eccentric-rod at the right hand of Figs. 1 and 2 to the upper portion of the eccentric-straps,

the eccentric-rod at the left of these figuresbeing arranged on a line intersecting the axis of the crank-shaft horizontally; but any usual or preferred construction of these parts may be adopted.

For the purpose of supporting a portion of the shafts of the machine, I propose to employ vertical bearing-plates H, (see Fig. 3,) one upon each side of the machine; or a skeleton frame-work or bracket may be used for this purpose, said plates or skeletons being bolted to the T-bars; and, when desired, these plates or brackets may be united with each other by suitable transverse girts, to further stiffen the frame. i

t is a pinion on the crank-shaft, meshing with the spur-gear I on a secondary shaft, J, which carries a worm, f. This worm engages with a worm-wheel, K, mounted upon the forward upper end of an inclined shaft, Z, which is supported in a sleeve, L, the sleeve being in turn supported by means of arms or bearers M M, which latter may be either bolted to the T-bars,or they may be cast in one piece with one of the cylinders or its steam-chest; or they maybe made in one and the same piece with one of the plates or brackets H.

m is a worm on the rear lower end of shaft 1 and made to engage wit-h and rotate a wormwheel, N, mounted loosely upon the crossshaft 0, the bearings I of which are also attached to the T-bars; or these bearings may consist of boxes, one member of each of which is cast with one of the cylinders. The shaft is of increased diameter at the center, so as to form shoulders, between one of which and the bearing 1 the worm-wheel N is supported against lateral movement; or collars may be secured to the shaftone 011 either side of the worm-wheel.

0 0 are spur-pinions keyed to the ends of the shaft 0 O and meshing with cogged racks p p, which are firmly bolted to the under sides of the flanges a a of the channel-bars. In Fig. I have illustrated one method which I propose to employ for supporting the outer ends of the shaft 0, in which figure the bearing P is represented as being constructed with outwardly-proiecting arms, which are bolted to the upper surface of the horizontal web I) of the T-bar, a portion of which is cut away to receive the end of the shaft and the pinion carried thereby, so that it shall mesh properly with the cogged rack 1). By preference the arms of the box 1 are cast in one and the same piece with the lower half of the box, which may be divided centrally of the shaft, the upper half or cap being bolted to the lower half, as is customary in boxes thus constructed. By preference I make these cogged racks in short sections; but they might be formed i11- tegrally with the channel-bars, if desired. I do not wish, however, to be limited to the exact position shown of these cogged racks, because they might be arranged below the pin ions,although I prefer to place them above in order to guard against their becoming filled with coal-dust or other material.

Q is a ratchet-wheel mounted loosely upon shaft 0 at the opposite end of the enlarged central portion.

R is a swinging bent arm or strap, the lower end of which is mounted upon shaft 0, its upper end being U-shaped to receive the upper end of a pawl which is pivoted therein, as

plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, in such position that the lower free end of the pawl engages with the teeth of ratchet-wheel Q. The combined thickness of the ratchet-wheel and the lower end of the arm It is equal to the distance between the adjacent bearing 1 and shoulder of the shaft 0, so that lateral movement of the wheel and arm relative to said shaft is prevented.

S is an eccentric rod or link connecting the bent arm 1% with an eccentric, s, on shaft J, so that as said shaft revolves the pawl imparts an intermittent rotary movementto the ratchet-wheel in the direction indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. .3.

T is a double clutch-faced hub splined to shaft 0, so as to rotate tl1erewith,while free to slide thereon. The inner face of the wormwheel N and the ratchet-wheel Q-that is, the faces of these wheels which are adjacent to the l1ub-are also ratchet-faced, so that when the ratchet teeth or lugs on the hub T are made to engage with the corresponding ratchet teeth or lugs on worm-wheel N the cutter-frame is advanced and the cutter-bar is thrust into the coal; but when the ratchet teeth or lugs of the hub are caused to engage with the corresponding teeth or lugs of ratchet-wheel Q the cutter-frame and cutter-bar are moved backward and the cutter-bar iswithdrawn from the coal.

It will be readily understood that by reason of the mechanism which connects shaft J with shaft 0 being composed of worm-gearing the rotation of shaft 0 in the direction indicated by arrow 1, Fig. 3, is very much slower than is the rotation of the said shaft 0 in the direction of arrow 2, same figure, the movement in this direction being produced by the pawl and ratchet wheel; and by changing the length of throw of the eccentric, or by pivoting the pawl higher or lower in the arm It, the speed at which the cutter-bar is moved backward may be changed at will.

\V is a clearing-chain shaft mounted in the cutter-frame, and \V are clearing-chains running from shaft \V to shaft F, and operating to withdraw the cuttings from the track of the machine.

w are worms or conveyors on the outer ends of shaft IV, for the purpose of drawing in the cuttings toward the center of the machine within reach of the clearing-chains.

As will be readily understood from an examination of Figs. 1 and 3, when the engines are running, the train of gearing which eonnects the engine-shaft with the chain-shaft F will rotate the said driving-chain shaft F,and through chain F the cutter-bar, which is advanced slowly into the coal by means of the wormgearing, shaft 0, and cogged pinions and cogged rack, as has been explained; and when a cut of suiiicient depthsay four or five feet-has been made the cutter -bar is withdrawn by means of the ratchet-wheel Q and mechanism connected therewith, as will be fully understood without further description; or, when preferred, the cutters may be withdrawn from the coal by means of the de vices shown in Fig. 4-, in whichXis asprocketwheel mounted on shaft 0, and provided with a ratchet-faced hub adapted to engage with the corresponding part of the sliding clutchf accd hub T, the sprocket-wheel being mounted loosely on the shaft.

cc is a chain connecting sprocket-wheel X with a corresponding sprocket wheel or sprocket-teeth 011 the chain-driving shaft F, so that when the sliding hub 'l is connected with the sprocket-wheel X the cutters will be drawn from the coal without reversing'the direction in which the engine is ordinarily running when cutting into the coal.

As I purpose to use any of the usual or approved devices for supporting the piston-rod, cross-heads, and forked pitman, these parts need not be specifically described, although in the drawings I have shown the outer ends of the piston rods supported, in brackets X, mounted upon the outer ends of horizontal arms Y Y, which are rigidly attached at their rear ends to the steam-chests of the cylinders G G.

I am aware that channeling and other rock cutting and drilling machines have been constructed with cogged racks on the supporting frame or bed-pieces, and with pinions meshing therewith to move the cutters in one or both directions relative to the said supporting bed-pieces.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a mining-machine, the combination of the stationary bed-frame having parallel side pieces, the sliding frame having its side bars fitted to slide in the side pieces of the bedframe and provided with inwardly-projecting ribs, the cutter-bar and cutters mounted across the front end of the sliding frame, means connecting the cutter -bar with the engine-shaft for driving the cutters, cogged racks projecting inwardly from the upper edges of the side pieces of the bed-frame, a horizontal shaft provided with pinions upon its outer ends meshing with the cogged racks, bearings for the horizontal shaft attached to the inwardly-projecting ribs of the sliding frame, an engineshaft, and means connecting the engine-shaft with the horizontal shaft for advancing the cutters into the coal, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mining-machine, the combination of a stationary bed-frame having parallel side pieces, the sliding bed-frame having its side bars fitted to slide in the side pieces of the bedframe, cogged racks projecting inwardly from the side pieces, a horizontal shaft supported at its ends in bearings which are attached to and project inwardly from the side bars of the sliding frame, the pinions mounted on the ends of the horizontal bars between its bearings and the side pieces of the main frame, and openings in the side pieces of the sliding frame to receive the pinions, substantially as set forth.

3. In a mining-machine, the combination of a stationary bed-frame having parallel side pieces, the sliding frame having its side bars fitted to slide in the side pieces of the bedframe, the cutter-bar mounted across the front ends of the sliding frame, means connecting the cutter-bar with the engine-shaft for driving the cutters, cogged racks projecting inwardly from the side pieces, a horizontal shaft supported between the side bars of the sliding frame and in the same horizontal plane, or thereabout, pinions mounted on the ends of the horizontal shaft, a continuously-rotating cogged gear mounted loosely on the horizontal shaft, and a clutch adaptedto connect the continuously rotating gear with the horizontal shaft, substantially as set forth.

4. In a mining-machine, the combination of a stationary bed-frame having parallel side pieces, the sliding frame having its side bars fitted to slide in the side pieces of the bedframe, means connecting the cutter-bar with the engine-shaft for driving the cutters, the cutter-bar mounted across the front end of the sliding frame, cogged racks projecting inwardly from the side pieces, a horizontal shaft supported between the side bars of the sliding frame, two wheels mounted loosely on the horizontal shaft and rotating in opposite directions, and clutches adapted to connect the oppositely-rotating wheels with the horizontal shaft alternately, substantially as set forth.

5. In amining-machine, thecombination of a stationary bed-frame, a sliding frame carrying a cutter-bar, and having its side bars fitted to slide on the bed-frame, cogged racks attached to the bed-frame, a horizontal shaft mounted on the sliding frame and carrying pinions which mesh with the cogged racks, two rotating wheels loosely mounted on the pinion-shaft, devices connecting one of the loosely-mounted wheels with the engineshaft and adapted to advance the cutter-bar slowly into the coal, and devices connecting the other loosely-mounted wheel with the engine-shaft for withdrawing the cutter-bar from the coal at a higher rate of speed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN A. LEGG. g 

